Quick-break switch



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

R. C. DEMARY. Y QUICK BREAK SWITCH.

No. 596,363. PatentedDeo. 28,1897.

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R. C. DEMARY. QUICK BREAK SWITCH.

No. 596,363. Patented Deo. 28,1897.

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.m @mf www UNITED STATES PATENT EricE.

RALPH CHAMBERLAIN DEMARY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

`QUICK- BREAK SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,363, dated December 28, 1897.

Application led August 2, 1897- Serial No. 646,729. (No model.)

To @ZZ wiz/0m t may con/cern,.- 1 Be it known that I, RALPH CHAMBERLAIN DEMARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Quick-Break With these and other objects and advan-l tages in View the invention comprises a spring-actuated switch-blade, (or two in the case of a double-pole switch,) means for holding the said blade in its normal or closed position against the action of the spring when the switch-handle is first drawn back to obtain the maximum tension, and means for automatioally releasing the switch-blade when the tension of the spring is approximately at the maximum,V thereby causing the circuit to be broken instantaneously.

In the accompanying drawings,.illustrating my invention, Figure l is a perspective View of the switch7 showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch in the position assumed when the tension of the actuating-spring is at its maximum and just prior to the release ofy thev switch-blade from the locking mechanism, the dotted lines indicating the position of the parts when the circuit is broken. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the switch. Fig. -1 is a rear elevation of the same. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the locking-lever and its bearing. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of the switchblade starter. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the application of the invention to a doublepole switch.

Like letters of reference denote like parts throughout all of the figures of the drawings.

A denotes the switch-base, which may be of any suitable non-conductive materialsuch as slate, marble, or hard rubber-and upon said base are mounted the circuit-terminals B and C. Located upon the terminal B and extending perpendicularly therefrom are the spring-contacts b and b', between which the switch-blade D is designed to wedge when the circuit is closed. Extending from the terminal C, in amanner similar to the switch-blade contacts b and b', are the upright standards c and c', between which the switch-blade D is journaled by the transverse bolt CZ.

This switch is provided with the usual handle D2 and an actuating-spring D', which may connect the switch-blade with the handle in any suitable manner, or as will be more particularly described'hereinafter. This spring may be helical, as shown, or of any other type which will answer the purpose of the invention. In order that the influence of the spring may be withheld from the switch-blade and applied when it has reached its maxi- `mum power, or approximately its maximum,

thereby causing an instantaneous break, the following mechanism is employed:

Loosely embracing the switch-blade D and journaled upon the same bolt d is a switchblade starter d', to which may be secured the back plate E. This back plate may be secured by bolts or otherwise and may be insulated from the switch-blade D by the iiber washers d2, interposed between it and the switch-blade starter d. It is provided with a depending trip-finger e, which may be ad- `justably secured to the middle of the back 'plate by the set-screw e', passing through an elongated opening or slot e, formed in the said trip-finger. The object of having this trip-finger adjustable will be apparent from the description of the cooperating parts which follows, but it will here be stated to be that i IOO screw f and elongated opening or slot f2 to provide for its vertical adjustment, as in the attachment of the trip-finger e. This depending latch f engages with one end of a lockinglever G, running longitudinally of the base A and parallel with the switch-blade, the other end of the locking-lever lying adjacent to the lower end ofthe trip-finger e. At its center the locking-lever is mounted in a bearing-head g, which may be secured to the base A by a threaded bolt extension g and nut g2. In order to permit an oscillating movement of the locking-lever, the same may be provided with a circular enlargement g3 at its middle, seated in a corresponding depression or recess g4 in the top of the bearing-head, and may be pivotally secured therein bya screw or bolt g5. To permit the locking-lever to be properly seated and freely oscillated, the bearinghead is cut away at diametrically opposite points QG and g?, as shown in Fig. 6.

Provision may be made for causing the locking-lever to assume its normal position after it has been disengaged from the latch f through the movement of the trip-iinger e by forming the circular depression or recess gJl of sufficient depth to admit a coiled spring g8. One end of it may be ixedly secured to the bearing-head and the other end removably secured to the locking-lever by an eye or loop engaging with a pin gf', projecting from the lower surface of the enlargement g3. The tension of the coiled spring being against the oscillation of the locking-lever, it will cause the same to be restored to its normal position after the latch is freed from it by the movement of the trip-iinger on the back plate.

The switch-handle D2, hereinbefore mentioned, may be secured to the top of the back plate and may extend therefrom at about its center, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 2. Extending from the back plate at this point and connected to the front plate is the actuating-spring D'. This spring may be helical, as shown, although other forms of spring can readily be adapted to the invention, and bctween the said spring and the back plate may be interposed a turnbuckle to increase the tension of the spring if occasion should require. This construction of mechanism is designed to be used in conjunction with a double-pole switch equally as well as with the single-pole switch shown and described. The front plate may bridge across the front ends of the switch-blades and the rear plate bridge between two switch-blade starters. The tripiinger and latch would depend from the middle of each plate, as hereinbefore described, and the locking-lever would be arranged midway of the two switch-blades. A handle common to the two blades would be attached to the back plate at its center and one or more springs may be employed.

This completes the description of my invention, and the operation is as follows: The handle is drawn back partially, causing the switch-blade starter and spring to assume the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 2. In this position the spring is approximately at the greatest tension obtainable in such constructions, but its iniiuence is withheld from the switch-blade by the locking-lever G, still in engagement with the latch f, secured to the front plate F. The object of this will be apparent. Being free from the graduallyincreasing influence of the spring, the switchblade remains passive until the moment when the full force of the spring may be applied to cause the blade to jump or part quickly from the spring-contacts Z) and b and eiTect an instantaneous break in the current. When the handle has reached the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, a further movement of the same will cause the trip-iinger to engage positively with the adjacent end of the locking-lever G and by oscillating it to free the opposite end from the latch f, depending from the front end of the switch-blade. Immediately the full force of the spring is applied to the blade and the same jumps from its contact with the spring-contacts b and b', and the result is an instantaneous break in the circuit.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction or arrangement of partsherein shown and described, but reserve to myself the right and privilege to alter the same within the bounds of mechanical ingenuity without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination of a base, circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade pivotally secured to one of the terminals and coperating with the other, a handle pivoted to the iirst-named terminal and movable independently of the switch-blade, a spring connection between the switch-blade and the handle, a locking-lever pivotally secured to the switch-base, and swinging in a plane at right angles to the switch-blade, a catch projecting from the latter and designed to engage with said lockinglever, to hold the blade against the action of the spring while the switch-handle is partially moved, and means for releasing the switchblade from the locking-lever when the maximum tension of the spring is obtained.

2. In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination of a base, circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade pivotally secured to one of the terminals and cooperating with the other, a handle pivoted to the first-named terminal and movable independently of the switch-blade, a springconnection between the switch-blade and the handle, a locking-lever pivotally secured to the base, and swinging in a plane at right angles to the switch-blade, a catch projecting from the latter and designed to engage with said locking-lever, to hold the blade against the action of the spring, while the switch-handle is partially moved, means for moving said locking-lever to release the switch-blade when the maximum ICO tension of the spring is obtained, and means for returning the said locking-lever to its normal position after such movement.

3. In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination o'f a base, circuit-terminals mounted i v secured to the switch-blade, and insulated therefrom, said latch engaging with the locking-lever when the switch-blade isin its normal or closed position, and means for disengaging the locking-lever from the said latch when the tension of the spring is approximately at its maximum.

4. In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination of a base, circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade pivotally secured to one of the terminals and cooperating with the other, a handle pivoted to the first-named terminal and movable independently of the switch-blade, a spring connection between the switch-blade and the handle, a swinging locking-lever pivotally secured to the base, a latch secured to the switch-blade, and insulated therefrom, said latch engaging with the locking-lever, when the switch-blade is in its normal or closed position, to hold it against the action of the spring when the handle is partially moved to obtain the maximum tension thereof, and a trip-finger carried by said handle and designed to contact with the lockinglever, upon further movementof the said handle, and release the latch.

5. In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination of a base, circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade pivotally secured to one of the terminals and coperating with the other, a handle pivoted to the first-named terminal and movable independently of the switch-blade, a spring vconnection between the switch-blade and the handle, a swinging locking-lever pivotally secured to the base, a latch secured to the switch-blade and insulated therefrom, said latch engaging with the locking-lever, when the switch-blade is in its normal or closed position, means for disengaging the locking-lever from the said latch when the tension of the spring is approximately at its maximum, and means for returning said locking-lever to its normal position, where it may be engaged by the latch when the switch-blade is closed.

6. In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination of a base, circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade, pivotally secured to one of the terminals and cooperating with the other, a handle pivoted to the rst-named terminal and movable independently of the switch-blade, a spring connection between the switch-blade and the handle, a swinging locking-lever formed centrally of its length with a circular enlargement, a bearing-head for said locking-lever secured to the base and recessed to receive the enlargement on the locking-lever, a pivot pin or bolt connecting the locking-lever and bearing-head, diametrically-disposed cut-away portions or passages to permit the swinging movement of the locking-lever, and a coiled spring seated in said bearing-head and connecting the same with the locking-lever, with means for detachably connecting the switch-blade to the lockinglever and means for releasing the same when the maximum tension of the switch-blade is attained.

7 In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination of a base, circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade pivotally secured to one of the terminals and cooperating with the other, a handle pivoted to the first-named terminal and movable independently of the switch-blade, a spring connection between the switch-blade and the handle, a swinging locking-lever pivotally secured to the base, an adjustable latch secu red to the switchblade and insulated therefrom, said latch engaging with the locking-lever, when the switch-blade is in its normal or closed position, to hold it against the action of the spring when the handle is partially moved to obtain the maximum tension, and a trip-finger carried by said handle and designed to contact with the locking-lever upon further movement of the said handle, and release the latch, with means for returning said locking-level' to its normal position, where it may be engaged by the latch when the switch-blade is lowered.

S. In a switch or circuit-breaker, the combination of a base, circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade pivotally secured to one of the terminals and coperating with the other, a handle pivoted to the first-named terminal and movable independently of the switch-blade, a spring connection between the switch-blade and the handle, a swinging, locking-lever, formed centrally of its length with a circular enlargement, a bearing-head, for said locking-lever, secured to the base and correspondingly recessed to receive the enlargement on the locking-lever, a pivot pin or bolt passing through the locking-lever and secured in the bearing-head, diametricallydisposed cut-away portions or passages to permit the swinging movement of the lockinglever, and a coiled spring seated in said bearing-head and connecting the same with the locking-lever, an adjustable latch secured to the switch-blade and insulatedtherefrom, said latch engaging with the locking-lever when the switch-blade is in its normal or closed position, and an adjustable trip-finger carried by said handle and designed to contact with the locking-lever and oscillate the same, releasing the latch after the handle has been partially moved to obtain the maximum tension of the switch-blade spring.

9. In a multipolar switch, the combination of a base, a series of circuit-terminals mounted IOO IIO

thereon, a switch-blade for each terminal, a handle common to all of the blades and pivoted to the same terminals, but movable independently of said blades, one or more spring connections between said handle and the switch-blades, a second series of terminals in position to cooperate With said switchblades, a locking-lever pivotally secured to the base and swinging in a plane at right angles to the switch-blades, a catch projecting from said blades and designed to engage with the said locking-lever, to hold the switchblades against the action of the spring or springs, While the handle is partially lnoved to obtain the maximum tension thereof, and means for releasing the switch-blades when the maximum tension, or approximately the maximum tension, of the spring or springs has been obtained.

lO. In a multipolar switch, the combination of a base, a series of circuit-terminals mounted thereon, a switch-blade for each terminal, a handle common to all of the blades and pivoted to the same terminals, but movable independently of said blades, one or more spring connections between said handle and the switch-blades, a second series of circuit-terminals in position to coperate With the said switch-blades, a locking-lever pivotally secured to the base and swinging in a plane at right angles to the switch-blades, a catch projecting from said blades and designed to engage With the said locking-lever, to hold the switch-blades against the action of the spring or springs While the switch-handle is partially nections between the said handle and the switch-blades7 a locking-lever pivotally secured to the base and swinging in a plane at right angles to the switch-blades, a catch projecting from said blades and designed to engage with the said locking-levcr, to hold the switch-blades against the action of the spring connections, While the handle is partially moved to obtain the maximum tension thereof, means for releasing the switch-blades when the maximum tension, or approximately the maximum tension of the spring connections has been obtained, and means for returning the said locking-lever to its normal position after such movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH CIIAM BERLAIN DEMAH Y.

XVitnesses FRANK S. WAHL, E. W. SANBORN. 

